Art. At the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, kids as young as 4 can tap into their inner Picasso with studio art classes. For kids 12 and under (and their grownups), there’s drop-in family studio art time. And one Sunday a month is Family Day. 612-870-3000, new.artsmia.org

Theater. For select Guthrie Theater productions, the folks behind the show host “How’d They Do That?” workshops that your little drama kings and queens will rave about. 612-377-2224, guthrietheater.org/plays_events

Crafting. If you haven’t been sucked into the spiral of loom that is rubber-band bracelets, head to Creative Kidstuff for a bracelet-making kit and some friendly advice to curb beginner tantrums. creativekidstuff.com

Sometimes the best way to take care of your children is to take care of your own bad self. These drop-in activities are fun for them, freeing for you.

Jumping. Trampoline parks aren’t just for birthdays. Pump it Up has Pop-In Playtime hours for less than $8 per kid. Sky Zone has Jumpalooza hours for all ages where you get two hours of jumping for $15. Pump It Up, five metro locations, including Eden Prairie, 952-943-0052, pumpitupparty.com; Sky Zone, Plymouth, 763-331-3511; St. Paul, 651-200-3383, skyzone.com

Ice Skating. Let your kids glide over the meandering canals and three distinct ponds groomed daily for skating at Edina’s Centennial Lakes. There’s rental for those who don’t have skates and a glorious warming house with indoor/outdoor fireplaces, hot chocolate, and snacks. 952-833-9586, edinamn.gov/centennial-lakes-park

Skiing. You’ll have a whole winter of Saturdays to yourself if you enroll your little skiers in SkiJammers Ski & Snowboard School. Drop them off at 8 a.m., and they’ll spend the days swishing down slopes, taking lessons, and eating hot dogs until you pick them up at 5 p.m., totally exhausted. Many locations, 952-473-1288, skijammers.com

Roller-skating. Rollerblading is out, roller-skating is back, and the Roller Garden is still open in all its disco-balled glory. Go for a little shoot the duck, snowball, or weekend “family skate,” when the Roller Garden keeps the dirty songs off the playlist. rollergarden.com